Transportation

(WXIA) -- The Georgia Department of Transportation will celebrate the July 4 holiday by taking a break from all road projects.

The weekend construction that has plagued drivers for weeks will be temporarily halted at noon on Thursday.

However, GDOT expects considerable delays in certain areas, especially on Friday. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to run in or watch the 2014 AJC Peachtree Road Race, which will close several roads in Buckhead and Midtown. Fireworks displays and other Independence Day celebrations will also affect commuters Friday night.

An international Jehovah's Witnesses convention will be held at the Georgia Dome this weekend; 34,000 people from 14 countries will attend. GDOT said this event may also have an impact on traffic in the area.

But drivers should still use caution when traveling through these areas:

Clayton County* One northbound right lane of I-675 will be closed between Highway 138 and I-285 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly for sweeping.

Cobb County* Two southbound right lanes of I-285 will be closed between Paces Ferry Road and South Cobb Drive from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for slab replacement and repair.* One westbound right lane of I-285 will be closed at Rottenwood Creek from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday for concrete pouring.

(WXIA) -- Portions of Interstates 20 and 285 will become proverbial parking lots this weekend as crews perform much-needed roadwork.

Some projects may be postponed by predicted thunderstorms, but drivers are still asked to plan ahead and find alternate routes where possible.

The I-20 roadwork that has plagued metro Atlanta for weeks will continue in these areas:

Atlanta* Two lanes will close in both directions between Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Langhorn Street from 9 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday for emergency bridge repairs on Westview Drive* Three eastbound lanes will be closed between Boulevard and Gresham Road from 8 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday, and 8 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday for restriping

Douglas CountyTwo eastbound lanes will be closed between Bill Arp and Liberty roads from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly for work

(WXIA) -- Travel experts predict a new post-recession high for Memorial Day Weekend.

Mark Jenkins, spokesman for the AAA pointed to the long winter as one reason: "A long and unusually harsh winter game many Americans the travel bug." He says the rising temperatures and an improving economy mean a projected 36.1 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles Memorial Day Weekend.

The Memorial Day travel period is measured from Thursday, May 22 to Monday, May 26th. More than 8 in 10 will drive to their destinations. But the biggest increases came in other modes. Cruise, trains, and buses will see an increase of 6.5%.

Even though the numbers are up, more than half of people in the Southeast (57%) haven't made plans yet. "Hotel and car rental reservations are filling up fast for Memorial Day," AAA spokesman Jessica Brady said. She said making plans now will ensure you find a good price.